Chatham Commissioners approve updated Capital Improvements Plan

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners has approved an updated seven-year Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) for 2015-21 that includes a few revisions compared to last year’s version.

“We are pleased that the updated CIP continues Chatham County’s practice of spending its capital project dollars wisely,” said Commissioner Chairman Walter Petty. “It keeps important projects on track, while ensuring that we remain fiscally sound and make strides toward our goal of a AAA bond rating.”

Chatham currently shares the highest bond rating in its population group, AA+/Aa2, with one other county in the state.

The adopted CIP added more school roof replacements, which means that all roofs identified in a 2010 school roof assessment for the Board of Education will be addressed within the next five years.

Contrary to some reports, the revised CIP still contains the proposed new high school as a scheduled project, slated to open in August of 2019. Several other school projects in the CIP document were requested by the Board of Education as future projects (not yet scheduled), mainly because funding sources or costs have not yet been identified.

One future project in the CIP is a joint vehicle maintenance facility, shared by the county and the school system, which the Board of Education has identified as a priority as soon as funds are available. The existing facility was built in the 1950s, is outdated and is too small to manage the bus fleet.

The largest non-school project added in the proposed CIP is $1.5 million for new financial and personnel management software that will greatly enhance overall efficiency and compliance with state and federal requirements.

New this year is replacement of two water mains in FY 2015 at a cost of $789,490, with funding from the water capital reserve.

The entire CIP document can be found on the county website at www.chathamnc.org. Use the Quick Links box at the top of the page to find the link for 2015-21 CIP.